FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Marci Lippert, Director of Athletic Communications- 610-606-4666 x. 3727

SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT MARYWOOD

Scranton, PA (March 20, 2009) – Marywood University and Cedar Crest College split CSAC softball action Friday afternoon in Scranton after the Pacers won the opener 4-0 but the Falcons rallied for a 2-1 win in the nightcap. With the split, Marywood moves to 7-5 while the Falcons go to 3-7. Both teams have identical 2-2 CSAC marks.

In the opener, Cedar Crest threatened in the top of the fourth after loading the bases on a single to right with two outs, but Marywood starter Mallory Gable (Hughestown, PA) got herself out of the jam by fielding a routine grounder back to the mound to end the inning. Samantha Olier ripped a two-out triple to right for the Falcons in the top of the sixth but was stranded at third when Gable got a strikeout to end the inning.

Jill Flanagan (Monroe, NY) reached on an error to start the Marywood sixth and pinch runner Caitlin Ely (Montrose, PA) promptly stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Ashley Dommes’ (Scranton, PA) one-out single to right scored Ely for the game’s first run.

Kim Lope (Clifton, NJ) then ripped a double to center to give Marywood runners on second and third with just one out, and senior Caitlin Hadzimichalis (Harmony, NJ) walked to load the bases for Kim Flanagan. Flanagan (Monroe, NY) would get a sacrifice fly to advance all runners and make the score 2-0. With two outs, Miranda Sorber (Hunlock Creek, PA) ripped a two-run single to break the game open and make it 4-0.

Gable improved to 3-0 on the year after striking out eight over her complete-game effort. Sorber, Lope, Dommes and Erika Cook (Wyalusing, PA) were all 1-3 at the plate for Marywood.

Allison Holland took the loss on the mound for Cedar Crest, striking out four over six full innings of work. Holland allowed just one earned run in the opening game. Samantha Makey was 1-2 at the plate while Olier was 1-3 after her triple.

In the nightcap, Holland would pitch seven strong innings to redeem herself and improve to 3-7 on the year as Cedar Crest held on for a 2-1 win.

Cedar Crest opened the scoring early when Alyssa Kabat advanced home while Marywood’s catcher was throwing out Holland on a dropped third strike. Rachel Orlen then doubled the Falcon lead with a single to right center to score Olier, who had reached second with a one-out double down the left field line.

Marywood threatened to tie in the bottom of the fourth as the Pacers put runners on second and third with two outs. After working the count full, Holland got Jill Flanagan to ground out to Kabat at shortstop to end the Pacers’ threat and the score remained 2-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Marywood cut the Falcon lead in half on a Hadzimichalis RBI double to left. Her extra-base hit scored Ely, who had reached on a walk and stole second, but Holland would close down the Pacers' offense by getting a pair of pop-ups to end the game in the seventh.

Holland finished the nightcap with seven strikeouts while allowing just three Marywood hits. Sarah Campbell went 2-3 at the plate for Cedar Crest while Rachel Orlen was 2-2 with the lone RBI for the Falcons.

Nikki Belles (1-3) took the loss for Marywood, striking out six over five innings of work. Belles allowed both runs on five hits. Kaitlyn Brennan (Taylor, PA) pitched the final two innings for Marywood, allowing two hits. Hadzimichalis, Lope and Kim Flanagan each had a hit for the Pacers.

The Falcons are now 3-7 overall (2-2 CSAC) on the season, while Marywood is currently 7-5 overall (2-2 CSAC).  Cedar Crest will take on Rosemont College in Rosemont on Saturday, March 21 at 1:00 p.m. in CSAC action.

Game One Box

Game Two Box

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